JP2000186710A - Hinge device and information processing equipment using the same - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To realize a smooth movement without complicate structure. SOLUTION: A plurality of middle units 10 of rhombic shape having bearing cylindrical parts at both ridge lines, a first end unit 30 and a second end unit 50 of half-divided rhombic shape having a bearing cylindrical part at one of ridge lines and attaching part at a jointing face are used. A connection shaft 70 is press-fitted to bearing cylindrical parts 12, 12 of the ridge line of the middle units 10 and a bearing cylindrical part 22 of the middle units 10 adjacent to the bearing cylindrical parts 12, 12, and the connecting shaft 70 is press-fitted to the bearing cylindrical parts 12, 12 of the middle unit 10(1) and a bearing cylindrical part 32 of the first end unit 30 adjacent to the bearing cylindrical parts 12, 12, and the connection shaft 70 is press-fitted to a bearing cylindrical part 22 of the middle unit 10(5) and a bearing cylindrical part 52 of the second end unit 50 adjacent to the bearing cylindrical part 22. A plurality of rotation fulcrums by a plurality of connection shafts 70 are included inside this hinge device 100 itself.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a hinge device, and to a portable information processing device in which a main casing and a lid casing are connected to each other so as to be rotatable using the hinge device.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Among information processing apparatuses such as personal computers and personal word processors, portable information processing apparatuses such as a file size and a notebook size generally include:
A main casing with a keyboard for inputting data and giving work instructions, a lid casing with a thin flat display panel such as a liquid crystal display panel for visually checking the processing contents, a main casing and a lid casing And a hinge for rotatably connecting the two. In addition, there is a portable information processing apparatus in which a tablet for pen input is arranged on a display panel in a lid casing. In this type, as a work mode, (1) a work mode in which key input is performed exclusively using a keyboard, and (2)
There are three types of work: key input using the keyboard and pen input using the tablet in parallel, and (3) work type performing pen input exclusively using the tablet.

[0003] As for the above-mentioned work form (3), there is one in which the area occupied by the portable information processing apparatus on the desk surface or the like is reduced (Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 4-10012). The outline will be described below with reference to FIG. A keyboard 82 is arranged on the inner surface 81a side of the main casing 81, a display panel 84 and a tablet 85 are arranged on the inner surface 83a side of the lid casing 83 in a superposed state, and a rear end of the main casing 81 and the lid casing 83 are arranged. And a rear end portion thereof is rotatably connected via a hinge device 90. The hinge device 90 includes a hinge portion 91 on the body casing 81 side, a hinge portion 92 on the lid casing 83 side,
It comprises a connecting portion 93 connecting both hinge portions 91 and 92. The hinge portion 91 on the body casing 81 side is referred to as a first hinge portion, and the hinge portion 92 on the lid casing 83 side is referred to as a second hinge portion. The rotation range of the first hinge portion 91 around its center Oa is 180 °, and the rotation range of the second hinge portion 92 around its center Ob is also 180 °. A frictional force acts on each of the hinge portions 91 and 92, and the hinge portions 91 and 92 are stabilized at an arbitrary angle.

FIG. 14 (a) shows a storage position, in which an inner surface 81a of a main body casing 81 having a keyboard 82 and a lid casing 8 having a display panel 84 and a tablet 85 are provided.
3 is in a state of facing the inner surface 83a. In this state, the connecting portion 93 is vertical. When the portable information processing device is not used and is simply placed or carried, the storage posture is set. FIG. 13 shows the display panel standing posture, and FIG.
By operating the second hinge portion 92 on the side of the lid casing 83 from the state of FIG. 4A, the lid casing 83 is raised and rotated around the center Ob of the hinge portion 92. In this case, the first hinge portion 91 on the main body casing 81 side is in a locked state and does not operate. In addition, the connecting portion 93 is kept in a vertical state. FIG. 13 shows the display panel standing posture exclusively when key input is performed. 13 from the posture of FIG.
Even in the change to the posture of 4 (a), only the second hinge portion 92 operates. 13 shows a state in which the lid casing 83 is opened 180 degrees and is horizontal, and changes between this state and the solid line state in FIG. 13 or the state in FIG. Only the second hinge portion 92 operates. FIG. 14B shows a flat deployment posture, in which both the first hinge portion 91 and the second hinge portion 92 operate to enter this state. Connecting part 9
3 is horizontal. When the key input and the pen input are used together, the flat deployment posture is set. FIG. 14C shows the tablet input posture, in which the outer surface 81b, which is the back surface of the main body casing 81, and the outer surface 88b of the lid casing 83 face upside down. The display panel 84 and the tablet 85 are directed upward for the purpose of use.
The connecting portion 93 is vertical. The tablet input attitude is used exclusively when performing pen input. Note that pen input includes fingertip input.

[0005] As described above, in this conventional technique, FIG.
14 (a) and FIG. 14 (c), the main casing 81 and the lid casing 83 are relatively 36
They are connected by a hinge device 90 that provides a 0 ° (turnable) rotation.

[0006]

The above prior art has a problem that the operation is not smooth. Hereinafter, this point will be described with reference to FIG. In order to make the operation order easy to understand, FIGS.
(C) and serial numbers in FIGS. 15 (a) to (e).

From the state shown in FIG. 14A to the state shown in FIG. 15A through the state shown in FIG. 13, the lid casing 83 is held in a state in which the posture of the connecting portion 93 is kept vertical.
Is rotated, the relative rotation is performed between the lid casing 83 and the second hinge portion 92.

FIG. 15A again shows the state shown by the two-dot chain line in FIG. In the change from FIG. 14A to FIG. 15A, only the second hinge portion 92 is operated to rotate the lid casing 83. The connecting portion 93 is vertical. FIG. 15B of FIG.
This is a state in which the state shown in FIG. 14A is being changed from the state shown in FIG. Is operated, the rear end of the hinge side of the lid casing 83 is pressed obliquely downward. Both the first hinge portion 91 and the second hinge portion 92 are operated, and the connecting portion 93 is tilted while the connecting portion 93 is relatively rotated with respect to both the first hinge portion 91 and the second hinge portion 92. I have. The relative rotation is performed between the main casing 81 and the first hinge portion 91 and between the lid casing 83 and the second hinge section 91.
This is performed between the hinge portion 92, between the first hinge portion 91 and the connecting portion 93, and between the second hinge portion 92 and the connecting portion 93, respectively. The displacement of the lid casing 83 is not rotation but parallel movement.

FIG. 14 from the state of FIG.
The changes up to the state (c) will be sequentially described below.

FIG. 15 from the state of FIG.
In the state (c), an operation is performed to push the rear end of the hinge of the main body casing 81 obliquely downward. Both the first hinge portion 91 and the second hinge portion 92 are operated, and the connecting portion 9
The connecting portion 93 itself is also tilted while the third member 3 is relatively rotated with respect to both the first hinge portion 91 and the second hinge portion 92.
The relative rotation is performed between the main casing 81 and the first hinge portion 91, between the lid casing 83 and the second hinge portion 92, between the first hinge portion 91 and the connecting portion 93, and between the first hinge portion 91 and the second hinge portion 92. And the connection portion 93. The displacement of the lid casing 83 is not rotation but parallel movement.

FIG. 15 from the state of FIG.
In the state (d), the parallel movement of the main body casing 81 is continued. At this time, the connecting portion 93 becomes vertical. Thereafter, the vertical state of the connecting portion 93 is maintained.

FIG. 15 from the state of FIG.
Until the state shown in FIG. 14C after the state shown in FIG. 14E, the main body casing 81 is rotated in a state where the posture of the connecting portion 93 is maintained vertically, instead of the parallel movement. The relative rotation between the main body casing 81 and the first hinge portion 91
Is done between

As described above, in the case of this prior art, the operation of the main body casing 81 and the lid casing 83 is one.
The mode of operation changes depending on the angle or position, such as rotation around one fixed fulcrum (center Oa or Ob) or parallel movement. Also, the relative rotation portion has changed as described in detail above. Such a change in the operation mode and the relative rotation position makes smooth operation difficult.

In the gazette which discloses this prior art, the specific structure of the hinge device 90 which operates as described above is not disclosed much. Regarding the hinge portions 91 and 92, a description such as "a brake mechanism using a torsion bar function and a friction hinge", a description "neutral state", and a description of "the hinge portion 30 (92) is 180 °
There is a description of "prompt release of hinge part 32 (91) by releasing" and a description of "setup operation", but it cannot be denied that it lacks specificity.

It is supposed that there is a complicated change in the operation mode and the relative rotation part as described with reference to FIGS. For the hinge part, there is a mechanism that performs relative rotation only with the lid or the casing of the main body, and a mechanism that performs relative rotation with the coupling part simultaneously with relative rotation with the casing. You must have both. It is assumed that the specific structure of the hinge device of such a mechanism will probably be quite complicated.

The present invention has been made in view of such circumstances, and it is an object of the present invention to realize a smooth movement without having a very complicated structure.

[0017]

A hinge device according to the present invention uses three or more hinge units and a connecting shaft to connect adjacent hinge units in a state where the hinge units are arranged in a row. It is connected so as to be relatively rotatable via a shaft, and has a configuration in which the rotation resistance in the connection via the connecting shaft is sufficiently large. The two hinge units at both ends are provided with attachment portions for attaching the hinge device to an object (eg, a main body casing or a lid casing) to which the hinge device is to be attached (claim 1). In other words, this configuration is a configuration having a plurality of pivot points in the hinge device itself. In the hinge device itself,
It is another matter whether or not there is a pivot point between the main body casing and a mounting object such as a lid casing. In the case of the related art, a rotation fulcrum is established between the main body casing and a mounting object such as a lid casing. In the present invention, it does not matter whether or not there is a rotation fulcrum with the mounting object. It is important that there are a plurality of pivot points in the hinge device itself, and that the pivot resistance is sufficiently large in the coupling structure via the coupling shaft for constructing the pivot point. It is. The relative angle between one end unit and the other end unit is changed via the intermediate unit by bending of the hinge device, but regardless of the relative angle, the operation mode at each pivot point is all It becomes equivalent at the rotation fulcrum, and the hinge device can smoothly bend. Since the connection at all the connection shafts is made to have resistance to rotation, it is possible to stably hold the position at an arbitrary relative angle. This compensates for the smooth bending motion described above. For the same reason, the operation of bending the hinge device may always be the same operation regardless of the relative angle, and the operating torque is transmitted to all the pivot points without difficulty, and the way of transmission is the relative angle. Regardless of the situation, the same state is maintained, so the operability is excellent. In the configuration of the hinge device of the present invention, when the number of intermediate units is increased and the number of rotation fulcrums is increased, it is easy to realize a situation where a sufficiently large rotation range is ensured, and the smoothness is improved. Good bending motion and good operability are maintained.

The hinge unit is preferably one or more intermediate units having a rhombic column shape and two end units having both ends of a half-rhombic rhombic column shape. In this case, in each of the intermediate unit and the end unit, a bearing cylinder portion is provided along the ridge line having a larger inner angle of the rhombus, and the bearing cylinder portions of the adjacent hinge units are axially aligned with each other, so that It is preferable that the connection shaft is press-fitted into the bearing cylinder portion to impart rotational resistance (claim 2). Despite having a relatively simple structure, the hinge device itself has a plurality of pivot points and can impart pivot resistance to each pivot point. Light weight is also achieved, and it is effective as a hinge device in various devices to be carried and used.

Further, when forming a through hole in each hinge unit along the row direction of the hinge units,
The plurality of through-holes in the plurality of hinge units may be formed as a series of continuous through holes (claim 3). A cable passed between two attachment targets is used to pass through the through hole. The exposed cable is protected from disconnection without exposing the cable. External appearance is also preferable.

A portable information processing apparatus according to the present invention has a configuration in which a main body casing having a keyboard and a lid casing having a display panel are relatively rotatably connected via the above-mentioned hinge device. Claim 4).
Since the hinge device is simple in structure and light in weight, it is advantageous in carrying the device, and cost reduction can be expected. As described above, it is easy to secure a large rotation range, and therefore, when adopted in a portable information processing device having a configuration in which a tablet is superimposed on a display panel in a lid casing (claim 5), the main body When the casing and the lid casing are turned to face each other with their outer surfaces facing back to back, smooth movement and good operability function advantageously.

In the case where the intermediate unit has a rhombic column shape and the end unit has a half-rhombic rhombic column shape, the main casing and the lid casing face each other with their inner surfaces facing each other or their outer surfaces facing back to back. If the slopes of the rhombus or the half-diamond rhombus are brought into contact with each other in a state where they are in contact with each other (claim 6), further excessive rotation is restricted due to the positioning by contact. Thus, it is possible to avoid an impact on the facing portion when rotating to each of the above states.

Further, when a switch for releasing the driving state of the keyboard is turned on in a tablet input posture in which the outer surface of the main body casing and the outer surface of the lid casing are faced back to back (claim 7), This prevents accidental key input due to accidental key operation in the tablet input attitude, so you do not have to worry when handling the portable information processing device by hand even in the tablet input attitude where the keyboard is facing down, and its handling is easy. It will be easier.

[0023]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Embodiments of a hinge device according to the present invention and a portable information processing device using the hinge device will be described below in detail with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1 shows a hinge device 1 according to an embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 2 is a horizontal sectional view of the hinge device 100 with a part thereof omitted, and FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the intermediate unit 10 as a component of the hinge device 100 as viewed from the direction of arrow a in FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the first end unit 30 which is a component of the hinge device 100 as viewed from the direction of arrow b in FIG. 1, and FIG. 5 is a view of the second end unit 50 which is a component of the hinge device 100. 1, FIG. 6 is a front view showing a state of the hinge device 100 in the first maximum bending posture, and FIG. 7 is a view of the hinge device 100 in a display panel standing posture. FIG. 8 is a front view showing the hinge device 1 in the second maximum bending posture.
It is a front view which shows the state of 00. In FIGS. 1 and 6 to 8, a state where the hinge device 100 is attached to the main casing 200 and the lid casing 300 of the portable information processing apparatus is indicated by a two-dot chain line. In order to make the orientation relationship between FIG. 1 and FIGS. 2 to 5 easier to understand, FIG. 1 shows an arrow X1 directed to the right in the horizontal direction and an arrow X2 directed to the left, and FIGS. Also, arrows X1 and X2 are shown. The directionality of FIGS. 3 and 4 is the same, but the directionality of FIG. 5 is reversed by half a turn.

First, the outline of the hinge device 100 will be described. The hinge device 100 includes a plurality of intermediate units 10 as rhomboid columns and a first
And the second end units 30 and 50 and a plurality of connecting shafts 70. The plurality of intermediate units 10 are arranged adjacent to each other, and adjacent ones are connected via a connection shaft 70 so as to be relatively rotatable. Although five intermediate units 10 are used in the present embodiment,
If necessary, when distinguishing these five, the first
Are ranked from the side of the end unit 30 to the side of the second end unit 50, and 10 (1), 10 (2)
, 10 (3), 10 (4), 10 (5).
The first end unit 30 is relatively rotatably connected to the first-order intermediate unit 10 (1) located at one end of the group of intermediate units 10 via a connection shaft 70, and the second end unit The unit 50 is connected to the fifth intermediate unit 10 (5) located at the other end of the intermediate unit 10 group by the connecting shaft 7
And 0 so as to be relatively rotatable. As for the material, for example, each of the units 10, 30, and 50 has a synthetic resin, and the connecting shaft 70 has a corrosion-resistant metal. Examples of the synthetic resin include polyacetal resin and the like. Examples of the corrosion-resistant metal include stainless steel, and preferably include stainless steel plated with electroless nickel.

The hinge device 100 has a bellows-like body as a whole, and the linear state in FIG.
As shown in the first maximum bending posture of FIG. 6, the robot can be rotated up to 180 ° in one direction of the rotation direction from the reference posture, and as shown in the second maximum bending posture of FIG. 8 from the reference posture. It is possible to rotate up to 180 ° in the direction opposite to the rotation direction. The flat surface of the first end unit 30 denoted by reference numeral 30a is the bonding surface of this end unit, and the flat surface of the second end unit 50 denoted by reference numeral 50a is the bonding surface of this end unit. It is. In the provisional reference posture of FIG.
50a are parallel to each other in mutually opposite outward states. In the first maximum bending posture of FIG.
a and 50a face in the same direction and are parallel to each other, and even in the second maximum bending posture of FIG.
0a and 50a are parallel to each other while facing in the same direction. In the relationship between FIG. 6 and FIG. 8, at first glance, the viewing directions are opposite to each other (corresponding to turning over the paper).
As you might think, it's not, and the attitude is completely different. This is shown below.

In FIG. 1, each unit 10, 30, 5
Regarding 0, the upper vertex on the drawing is A, and the lower vertex is B. Compare FIG. 6 with FIG. 8 in which the bellows-like hinge device 100 is bent at 180 ° and each unit is radially expanded. In FIG. 6, the vertex A is located on the radial center side.
8, the vertex B is located on the center side in the case of FIG. 8, and the first maximum bending posture of FIG. 6 and the second maximum bending posture of FIG. It is. This point can be seen from the correlation between the position of the keyboard 210 in the main body casing 200 and the positions of the display panel 310 and the tablet 320 in the lid casing 300. In the case of FIG. 6, the keyboard 21 is in the storage posture in which the lid casing 300 is closed.
0, the display panel 310 and the tablet 320 are facing each other. In the case of FIG.
Is opened, the tablet input posture is inverted 360 ° and overlapped on the main body casing 200, and the display panel 310 and the tablet 320 are positioned upward while the keyboard 210 is positioned downward.

FIG. 7 shows a display panel standing posture.
FIG. 7 shows a state in which the lid casing 300 is opened to about 110 ° from the storage position, which is the first maximum bending position in FIG. 6. The relationship between FIG. 8 and FIG. 7 is as follows. The lid casing 300 is further rotated by about 250 ° from the display panel standing posture of FIG. 7 so that the outer surface 302 of the lid casing 300 is superimposed on the outer surface 202 which is the back surface of the main body casing 200, and the top and bottom are turned upside down (up and down) That is, the posture shown in FIG. The upside-down is to rotate 180 ° clockwise or counterclockwise along the plane of the paper. Since such an upside down is performed, in FIG.
8, the hinge device 100 is located on the right side of both casings 200 and 300, while the hinge device 100 is located on the left side of 0 and 300.

In the present embodiment, the apex angles of the rhombic columnar main bodies 11 constituting the intermediate unit 10 are 30 ° and 150 °, and the number of the intermediate units 10 is five. The half united diamond-shaped columnar bodies 31 and 51 constituting the end units 30 and 50 correspond to a form in which the diamond-shaped columnar body 11 of the intermediate unit 10 is bisected along the center line, and the apex angles are 15 ° and 150 °. °. The apex angle is determined in this way, as shown in FIG. 6 and FIG.
This is because + 15 ° × 2 = 180 °. Generally, the smaller apex angle of the intermediate unit 10 is θ, the number of the intermediate units 10 is n, the first and second end units 3
Assuming that the smaller apex angle of 0.50 is θ / 2, θ × n +
θ / 2 × 2 = 180 °, that is, θ × (n + 1) = 180 °
Set so that

The outline of the hinge device 100 has been described above. Next, the specific structure of the hinge device 100 will be specifically described with reference to FIGS. FIG. 2 shows a hinge device 100.
3 is a horizontal sectional view in which a part of the intermediate unit 10 is omitted.
4 is a perspective view of the first end unit 30, and FIG. 5 is a perspective view of the second end unit 50.

First, the intermediate unit 10 will be described. In FIG. 3, reference numeral 11 denotes a rhombic columnar main body;
Is a bearing cylinder portion, 13 and 23 are semicircular concave portions, 14, 15, and
Reference numerals 24 and 25 denote shaft insertion recesses, reference numeral 16 denotes a through hole for cable insertion, reference numerals 17a and 17b denote ridge lines having larger inner angles of the rhombus of the columnar main body 11, and reference numerals 18a and 18b denote end faces at both ends in the longitudinal direction of the columnar main body 11. .

On one ridge line 17a side, two sets of a pair of bearing cylinder parts 12, 12, a semicircular concave part 13 therebetween, and shaft insertion concave parts 14, 15 on both sides are provided. On the other side of the ridge line 17b, two sets of left and right pairs of a pair of semicircular concave portions 23, a bearing cylinder portion 22 therebetween and shaft insertion concave portions 24, 25 on both sides are provided. On the center side, a pair of left and right through-holes 16 for cable insertion penetrating from one ridge line 17a to the other ridge line 17b is formed.

A pair of bearing cylinders 12, 12 on the ridge line 17a side
Focusing on, these are the same length, and are formed integrally with the columnar main body 11 in a state where their axes coincide with the ridge lines 17a. The shaft insertion holes 12a, 12a penetrating the shaft centers of the bearing cylinder portions 12, 12, respectively, are shaft insertion recesses 14, 15, respectively.
It is connected to. The axes of both shaft insertion recesses 14 and 15 coincide with ridge line 17a. The shaft insertion recess 14 on the end side is open to the end face 18a in the axial direction. The semicircular concave portion 13 between the pair of bearing cylinder portions 12 and 12 is used to relatively rotate the bearing cylinder portion 22 of another adjacent columnar main body 11 or the bearing cylinder portion 32 of the first end unit 30 shown in FIG. It is a part that fits in a forgiving state. The length of the semicircular recess 13 is slightly larger than the length of one bearing cylinder 12. Further, the diameter of the semicircular recess 13 is slightly larger than the diameter of the bearing cylinder 12. The axis of the semicircular concave portion 13 coincides with the ridge line 17a. Another set of bearing cylinders 12, 12, semicircular concave 13
And the shaft insertion recesses 14 and 15 are also symmetrical,
The structure is the same.

One bearing cylinder 22 on the side of the ridge 17b
Focusing on, the axis is formed integrally with the columnar main body 11 in a state where the axis coincides with the ridge line 17b. Bearing cylinder 22
The pair of semicircular concave portions 23, 23 located on both sides of the cylindrical body 11 have the same length, and are adjacent to each other.
2, 12 or a portion in which the bearing cylinders 52, 52 of the second end unit 50 shown in FIG. 5 are fitted so as to allow relative rotation. The length of the semicircular concave portion 23 is slightly larger than the length of the bearing cylinder 22. Further, the diameter of the semicircular concave portion 23 is slightly larger than the diameter of the bearing cylinder 22. Semicircular concave part 2
The axes 3 and 23 coincide with the ridge 17b. A shaft insertion hole 22a penetrating the shaft center of the bearing cylinder portion 22 is opened to the adjacent semicircular concave portions 23, 23 on both sides, and the shaft insertion concave portions 24, 25 are further sandwiched between the semicircular concave portions 23, 23. They are on the same straight line. Double shaft insertion recess 24,
The axis of 25 coincides with the ridge line 17b. The shaft insertion recess 24 on the end side is open to the end face 18a in the axial direction. Another set of bearing cylinder portions 22, semi-circular concave portions 23, 23
And the shaft insertion recesses 24 and 25 are also symmetrical,
The structure is the same.

When a vertical line common to the two ridge lines 17a and 17b is set as a reference (this is set as a reference vertical line;
1-X2 direction), the bearing cylinder portion 12, 12 on the ridge line 17a side is just opposite to the semicircular concave portion 23, 23 on the ridge line 17b side in the reference perpendicular direction.
The semicircular concave portion 13 on the 7a side is the bearing cylinder 2 on the ridge line 17b side.
2 is just opposed to the reference perpendicular direction. The through holes 16 for cable insertion are located in the inner shaft insertion recess 1.
Both ridge lines 17a and 17b are formed to penetrate along the reference perpendicular direction between the shaft insertion recesses 15 and 25 on the other side between the shaft insertion recesses 5 and 25.

As shown in FIG. 2, for example, the first-order intermediate unit 1 adjacent to the four bearing cylinders 12 on the ridge line 17a of the second-order intermediate unit 10 (2) in the X1 direction.
Four semicircular concave portions 23 at the ridge line 17b of 0 (1) ...
And at the same time, the two semicircular concave portions 13 at the ridge line 17a of the intermediate unit 10 (2) of the second order are aligned with the two at the ridge line 17b of the intermediate unit 10 (1) of the first order.
With the three bearing cylinder portions 22 fitted together, the shaft insertion holes 12a, 12a of the bearing cylinder portions 12, 12, which become through holes, are aligned with the shaft insertion holes 22a of the bearing cylinder portion 22, and the through holes are formed. Through the connecting shaft 70, and the adjacent intermediate unit 10 (2)
, 10 (1) are relatively rotatably connected to each other.

The two bearing cylinders 22 on the ridge line 17b of the second-order intermediate unit 10 (2) are connected to the ridge line 17a of the third-order intermediate unit 10 (3) adjacent in the X2 direction.
Are fitted into the two semicircular concave portions 13 at the same time, and at the same time, the four
Four semi-circular concave portions 23... At the ridge line 17 a of the third-order intermediate unit 10 (3) have four bearing cylinder portions 12.
Are fitted, the shaft insertion hole 22a of the bearing cylinder 22 and the shaft insertion holes 12a, 1
The adjacent intermediate units 10 (2) and 10 (3) are relatively rotatably connected to each other by inserting the connecting shaft 70 into the through-hole so as to coincide with 2a.

The outer diameter of the connecting shaft 70 is slightly larger than the inner diameter of the shaft insertion holes 12a and 22a, which are through holes.
0 is press-fitted into both the shaft insertion holes 12a and 22a. As a result, the adjacent intermediate units 10, 1
A relatively large frictional force acts when the 0's are bent in a bent manner. Connection shaft 70 and double shaft insertion holes 12a, 22a
Is large, and the posture can be fixedly held at an arbitrary rotation angle.

The five intermediate units 10 are all in the same form, and the through holes 16, 16... For inserting the cables in the five intermediate units 10 are a series of ones along the reference perpendicular direction.

Next, the first end unit 30 will be described. In FIG. 4, 31 is a half-split rhombic columnar body,
32 is a bearing cylinder part, 33 is a semicircular concave part, 34 and 35 are shaft insertion concave parts, 36 is a through hole for cable insertion, 37 is a ridge line of the columnar main body 31, and 38a and 38b are longitudinal ends of the columnar main body 31. The end surface 30a is a joint surface of the columnar main body 31. The joint surface 30a is a flat surface corresponding to the base of two oblique sides of equal sides in the cross-sectional shape of the half-split rhombus. 3
Reference numeral 9 denotes a mounting portion formed of an L-shaped bracket, and reference numeral 40 denotes a mounting portion formed of a U-shaped bracket.

On the side of the ridgeline 37, two sets of left and right pairs of a pair of semicircular concave portions 33, 33, a bearing cylinder portion 32 therebetween, and shaft insertion concave portions 34, 35 on both sides are provided. On the center side, a pair of left and right through-holes 36, 36 for cable insertion, penetrating from the ridge line 37 to the joint surface 30a in a direction perpendicular to the joint surface 30a are formed.

Focusing on one bearing cylinder portion 32 on the ridge line 37 side, the columnar main body 3 is placed in a state where its axis coincides with the ridge line 37.
1 are integrally formed. A pair of semicircular concave portions 33, 33 located on both sides of the bearing cylinder portion 32 have the same length, and allow the bearing cylinder portions 12, 12 of the adjacent first-order intermediate unit 10 (1) to relatively rotate. This is the part that fits in the state. The length of the semicircular concave portion 33 is slightly larger than the length of the bearing cylinder 32. In addition, the diameter of the semicircular concave portion 33 is slightly larger than the diameter of the bearing cylinder 32. Semicircular recess 33,
The axis of 33 coincides with the ridge 37. The shaft insertion hole 32a penetrating the shaft center of the bearing cylinder 32 is opened to the adjacent semicircular concave portions 33, 33 on both sides.
The shaft insertion recesses 34 and 35 are located on the same straight line with the interposition of 33 therebetween. The axes of the both shaft insertion recesses 34 and 35 coincide with the ridge 37. Shaft insertion recess 3 on end side
Numeral 4 is open to the end face 38a in the axial direction. The other set of the bearing cylinder 32, the semicircular recesses 33, 33, and the shaft insertion recesses 34, 35 are also symmetrical and have the same structure.

As shown in FIG. 2, four bearing cylinders 12 at the ridge line 17a of the intermediate unit 10 (1) of the first rank are arranged.
Is the ridge line 3 of the first end unit 30 adjacent in the X1 direction.
7 and at the same time, the ridge line of the first end unit 30 with respect to the two semi-arc concave portions 13 at the ridge line 17a of the intermediate unit 10 (1) of the first order. 37, the shaft insertion holes 12a, 12a of the bearing cylinder portions 12, 12, which are through holes, are aligned with the shaft insertion holes 32a of the bearing cylinder portion 32, in a state where the two bearing cylinder portions 32 in. The connecting shaft 70 is inserted through the through hole, and the adjacent intermediate unit 10 (1) and the first end unit 30 are connected so as to be relatively rotatable.

The outer diameter of the connecting shaft 70 is slightly larger than the inner diameters of the shaft insertion holes 12a and 32a, which are through holes.
0 is press-fitted into both the shaft insertion holes 12a and 32a. As a result, a relatively large frictional force acts when the adjacent first-order intermediate unit 10 (1) and the first end unit 30 are bent in a bent manner. Connecting shaft 7
The static friction force between the shaft insertion hole 12a and the double shaft insertion holes 12a and 32a is also large, and the position can be fixedly held at an arbitrary rotation angle.

A pair of L-shaped mounting portions 3 on both left and right sides
9 and 39 are bilaterally symmetrical and are integrally formed on the joint surface 30 a of the columnar main body 31. Mounting part 39
Is formed with a screw insertion hole 39a for attachment. The intermediate U-shaped mounting portion 40 is formed integrally with the joint surface 30a of the columnar main body 31 between the pair of cable insertion through holes 36, 36.

Next, the second end unit 50 will be described. In FIG. 5, reference numeral 51 denotes a half-rhombic rhombic columnar main body;
52 is a bearing cylinder portion, 53 is a semi-circular concave portion, 54 and 55 are shaft insertion concave portions, 56 is a through hole for cable insertion, 57 is a ridge line of the columnar main body 51, and 58a and 58b are longitudinal ends of the columnar main body 51. The end surface 50a is a joining surface of the columnar main body 51. The bonding surface 50a is a flat surface corresponding to the base of two equal sides of the half-square rhombic cross-sectional shape. 5
Reference numeral 9 denotes a mounting portion formed by an L-shaped bracket, and 60 denotes a mounting portion formed by a U-shaped bracket. The illustrated orientation of the second end unit 50 according to FIG. 5 is inversely rotated by 180 ° in the horizontal direction with respect to the illustrated orientation of the intermediate unit 10 according to FIG. 3 (see arrows X1, X2). .

On the side of the ridge line 57, a pair of bearing cylinders 5
Two sets of two, 52, a semicircular recess 53 between them, and shaft insertion recesses 54, 55 on both sides are provided on the left and right. On the center side, a pair of left and right cable insertion through holes 56, 56 penetrating from the ridge line 57 to the joint surface 50 a in a direction perpendicular to the joint surface 50 a are formed.

Focusing on the pair of bearing cylinder portions 52, 52 on the side of the ridge line 57, they have the same length, and are formed integrally with the columnar main body 51 in a state where their axes coincide with the ridge line 57. The shaft insertion holes 52a, 52a penetrating the shaft centers of the bearing cylinder portions 52, 52 are connected to the shaft insertion recesses 54, 55, respectively. The axes of both shaft insertion recesses 54 and 55 are ridge lines 57
Matches. The shaft insertion recess 54 on the end side is open to the end face 58a in the axial direction. A pair of bearing cylinders 52,
The semicircular concave portions 53 between the 52 are portions where the bearing cylinder portions 22 of the adjacent fifth-order intermediate unit 10 (5) are fitted so as to allow relative rotation. The length of the semicircular concave portion 53 is 1
It is slightly larger than the length of one bearing cylinder 52. Further, the diameter of the semicircular concave portion 53 is slightly larger than the diameter of the bearing cylinder 52. The axis of the semicircular concave portion 53 coincides with the ridge line 57. Another set of bearing cylinder portions 52, 52, semi-circular concave portion 5
3 and the shaft insertion recesses 54 and 55 are also symmetrical and have the same structure.

As shown in FIG. 2, for example, the two bearing cylinder portions 22 at the ridge line 17b of the fifth-order intermediate unit 10 (5) are connected to the ridge line 57 of the second end unit 50 adjacent in the X2 direction. Are fitted into the two semi-circular recesses 53.
At the same time, four bearing cylinder portions 52 at the ridge line 57 of the second end unit 50 are fitted to the four semi-circular concave portions 23 at the ridge line 17b of the fifth intermediate unit 10 (5). Thus, the shaft insertion holes 22a of the bearing cylinder portions 22 and the shaft insertion holes 52a, 52
a, the connecting shaft 70 is inserted through the through hole, and the adjacent fifth-order intermediate unit 10 (5) and the second end unit 50 are relatively rotatably connected. .

The outer diameter of the connecting shaft 70 is slightly larger than the inner diameters of the shaft insertion holes 22a and 52a, which are through holes.
0 is press-fitted into both the shaft insertion holes 22a and 52a. As a result, a relatively large frictional force acts when the adjacent fifth-order intermediate unit 10 (5) and the second end unit 50 are bent at the knee. Connecting shaft 7
The static friction force between the shaft insertion hole 22a and the double shaft insertion holes 22a and 52a is large, and the position can be fixedly held at an arbitrary rotation angle.

A pair of L-shaped mounting portions 5 on both right and left sides
Reference numerals 9 and 59 are bilaterally symmetric, and are integrally formed at the joint surface 50 a of the columnar main body 51. Mounting part 59
Is formed with a screw insertion hole 59a for attachment. The middle U-shaped mounting portion 60 is formed integrally with the joint surface 50a of the columnar body 51 between the pair of cable insertion through holes 56,56.

The through holes 36 for inserting the cables in the first end unit 30 are provided along the reference perpendicular direction, and the through holes 16 for inserting the cables of the intermediate units 10...
, And the cable insertion through-holes 56 in the second end unit 50 are connected to the cable insertion through-holes 16, 16 of the group of the intermediate units 10 along the reference perpendicular direction. It is connected to. The series of holes is a through hole 400.

As described above, the plurality of intermediate units 1
The intermediate units 10 and 10 adjacent to each other are connected to each other via a connecting shaft 70 so as to be relatively rotatable, and the first-order intermediate unit 10 (1) and the first end unit 30 are connected to each other by a connecting shaft. The hinge device is relatively rotatably connected via a connecting shaft 70, and the fifth intermediate unit 10 (5) and the second end unit 50 are relatively rotatably connected via a connecting shaft 70. 100 are configured. A usage example of the hinge device 100 configured as described above will be described below.

FIG. 9 is a perspective view of the portable information processing apparatus 500 in a lid closed position, FIG. 10 is a perspective view of the portable information processing apparatus 500 in a display panel standing position, and FIG. It is a perspective view in tablet input attitude.
In the portable information processing device 500, a main casing 200 and a lid casing 300 are connected via a hinge device 100 so as to be relatively rotatable. Body casing 200
A keyboard 210 is arranged on the inner surface 201 side of the keyboard. On the inner surface 301 side of the lid casing 300, a display panel 310 and a tablet 320 are arranged. In the illustrated example, the tablet 320 is overlaid on the surface of the display panel 310. Therefore, this tablet 320
Is a transparent type. Note that when a capacitance-type tablet is used, the tablet can be arranged so as to overlap the back surface of the display panel 310.

Body casing 200, keyboard 21
0, the lid casing 300, the display panel 310, and the tablet 320 are also denoted by reference numerals in FIGS. The joining surface 30a of the first end unit 30 of the hinge device 100 is brought into contact with the back surface 200a of the main body casing 200, and the mounting portions 39, 39, 40 are attached to the back surface 2a.
00a, the left and right attachment portions 39, 39 are fixedly attached to the attachment portion 230 inside the main body casing 200 with screws passing through the screw insertion holes 39a, 39a. Also, the back surface 3 of the lid casing 300
The joint surface 50a of the second end unit 50 in the hinge device 100 is brought into contact with the mounting portion 59, 59, 60.
Is inserted into the inside from the back surface 300a, and the left and right mounting portions 59,
59 is fixedly attached to the attachment portion 330 inside the lid casing 300 with screws passing through the screw insertion holes 59a, 59a.

In this embodiment, the hinge device 10
0 has a plurality of pivot points by the connecting shafts 70. The rotation fulcrum has sufficiently large rotation resistance. The relative angle between the first end unit 30 and the second end unit 50 is changed by the bending of the hinge device 100 in a waist manner. Regardless of the relative angle, the operation mode at each rotation fulcrum. Becomes equivalent at all the pivot points, and the hinge device can smoothly bend. Since the connection at all the connection shafts is made to have resistance to rotation, it is possible to stably hold the position at an arbitrary relative angle. This compensates for the smooth bending motion described above. In addition, since the operating torque is transmitted to all the pivot points without difficulty, and the transmission is maintained in the same state regardless of the relative angle, the operability is excellent.

The hinge device 100 is composed of a plurality of intermediate units 10 having a rhombic column shape, a first end unit 30 and a second end unit 50 having a half-rhombic rhombic column shape, and a plurality of connecting shafts 70. In addition, the structure is simple and lightweight is achieved, which is particularly effective in the portable information terminal device 500 to be carried and used.

Further, the inner surface 201 of the main casing 200 and the lid casing 300 are set to the first maximum bending posture shown in FIG.
When the body casing 2 is closed to face the inner surface 301 of the main casing 2 and in the second maximum bending posture of FIG.
00 and the outer surface 30 of the lid casing 300
When the operation is completed, when the operation is completed, the adjacent intermediate unit 1 is turned over.
0, 10 slopes 11a, 11a (or 11b, 11
b) While the slopes 11a (or 11b) of the intermediate unit 10 and the slope 31a (or 31b) of the first end unit 30 abut each other, the slope 11a (or 11b) of the intermediate unit 10 and the slope 11a (or 11b) of the intermediate unit 10 are in contact with each other. Since the inclined surface 51a (or 51b) of the second end unit 50 abuts, further aggressive rotation is restricted by the positioning by this abutment, and the state shown in FIG. 6 or FIG. It is possible to avoid an impact on the facing portion during rotation.

FIG. 12 is a cross-sectional view on a vertical plane passing through a cable insertion hole when the hinge device 100 is used for the portable information terminal device 500. FIG. 12 corresponds to the second maximum bending posture in FIG. As shown in FIG.
00, the through holes 16 for inserting the cables of the five intermediate units 10, the through holes 36 for inserting the cables of the first end unit 30, and the through holes 56 for inserting the cables of the second end unit 50. Is a series of through holes. The through-hole is indicated by reference numeral 400. There are a pair of such through holes 400 on the left and right. A flexible cable 410 for connecting a circuit on the body casing 200 side and a circuit on the lid casing 300 side is inserted into each through hole 400. The flexible cable 410 is inserted into the through hole 400 and is protected by the units 10, 30, and 50 from being exposed to the outside. Even if the hinge device 100 is bent at any angle, an unreasonable force is not applied to the flexible cable 410, thereby preventing disconnection. Since it is not exposed, it is also preferable from the viewpoint of beauty.

A concave portion 240 is formed on the outer surface 202 side which is the back surface of the main body casing 200, and a switch 250 for forcibly disabling the keyboard 210 is provided inside the concave portion 240. The operation unit 251 is arranged outside the recess 240. A protruding switch operating portion 340 is provided on the outer surface 302, which is the back surface of the lid casing 300, in a state facing the operation portion 251. The hinge device 100 is set to the second maximum bending posture shown in FIG. When the processing device 500 is folded to the tablet input posture, the switch operating unit 340
Presses the operation unit 251 to activate the switch 250,
By transmitting a release signal to a CPU (Central Processing Unit) of a microcomputer in the main body casing 200, the keyboard 210 is made inoperative. as a result,
In the tablet input posture, the portable information processing device 5
Even if there is another object on the desk or the like on which the 00 is placed and the key of the keyboard 210 is pressed, when the user holds the display panel 310 in the display state in FIG. 11 and FIG. Even if the hand hits a key on the keyboard 210, the key operation is invalidated, which can affect the display state on the display panel 310, that is, can avoid an input error.

As described above, in the hinge device 100, the connecting shaft 70 for connecting the respective units 10, 30, 50 so as to be relatively rotatable is connected to the coaxial bearing cylinder 12, 22, or 12, 32, or 22, 52. Since the hinge device 100 is press-fitted to have a large static friction force, the hinge device 100 can be fixed in position at an arbitrary bending angle. Therefore, as shown in FIG. 7, when the portable information processing apparatus 500 is raised to the display panel standing posture at an appropriate angle convenient for the user to view the lid casing 300, the posture becomes stable. In FIG. 11, reference numeral 450 denotes a pen for pen input to the tablet 320.

In the above-described embodiment, the hinge device 100 rotates over a range of 360 ° from the first maximum bending position to the second maximum bending position, but the present invention is not limited to this. Absent. First, 36
As a general formula for rotating to 0 °, θ × (n +
1) = 180 ° = 360 ° / 2. If the maximum rotation angle range is generally φ instead of 360 °, then θ × (n
+1) = φ / 2. Here, θ is the smaller apex angle of the intermediate unit 10, and n is the number of the intermediate units 10. For example, if φ = 180 ° and n = 5, θ = 1
5 °. If φ = 180 ° and θ = 30 °, n = 2. In other words, it is not always necessary to face upside down.

[0063]

According to the present invention for the hinge device,
By providing a plurality of pivot points in the hinge device itself to increase the pivot resistance at each pivot point, the transmission of the operating torque can be made smooth regardless of the relative angle, The bending operation of the hinge device can be made smooth and the operability can be made excellent. Further, a configuration in which the number of intermediate units is increased to increase the number of rotation fulcrums can be easily adopted, and by doing so, a situation in which the rotation range is sufficiently large can be realized.
Nevertheless, it is possible to maintain the above-mentioned smooth bending operation and good operability. In the case of the configuration of the rhombic columnar intermediate unit and the half-rhombic rhombic columnar end unit, the structure can be simplified and the weight can be reduced, which is effective as a hinge device for portable equipment. When a through hole serving as a through hole is formed in each hinge unit, a cable passing therethrough can be protected from disconnection and the like, and the appearance is good.

According to the portable information processing apparatus of the present invention, the main body casing and the lid casing are connected via the above-mentioned hinge device, and the hinge device has a simple structure and is lightweight. It is advantageous in carrying. Rotation to the tablet input posture in which the main body casing and the lid casing are turned upside down to face each other can be smoothly performed. If the slopes of the rhombus or the half-rhombic rhombus are brought into contact with each other in the tablet input posture, it is possible to restrict the excessive rotation and avoid the impact on the facing part. Further, even if there is an unexpected key input in the tablet input posture, invalidating the key input makes it easy to handle by hand.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a front view of a hinge device according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a horizontal sectional view in which a part of the hinge device according to the embodiment is omitted.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of one of the intermediate units, which is a component of the hinge device according to the embodiment, as viewed from the direction of arrow a in FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of a first end unit, which is a component of the hinge device according to the embodiment, as viewed from the direction of arrow b in FIG. 1;

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of a second end unit, which is a component of the hinge device according to the embodiment, as viewed from the direction of arrow c in FIG. 1;

FIG. 6 is a front view showing a state where the hinge device according to the embodiment is in a first maximum bending posture;

FIG. 7 is a front view showing a state where the hinge device according to the embodiment is in a display panel standing posture;

FIG. 8 is a front view showing a state where the hinge device according to the embodiment is in a second maximum bending posture;

FIG. 9 is a perspective view showing a storage posture of a portable information processing device using the hinge device according to the embodiment;

FIG. 10 is a perspective view showing a display panel standing posture of the portable information processing apparatus.

FIG. 11 is a perspective view showing a tablet input attitude of the portable information processing apparatus.

FIG. 12 is a cross-sectional view of a vertical plane passing through a cable insertion through-hole when the hinge device according to the embodiment is used in a portable information processing device.

FIG. 13 is a schematic configuration diagram of a portable information processing apparatus using a hinge device according to the related art.

FIG. 14 is an explanatory diagram of an operation of a hinge device in a portable information processing device according to the related art.

FIG. 15 is an operation explanatory diagram for pointing out a problem of the conventional technique.

[Explanation of symbols]

10: Intermediate unit, 11: Diamond-shaped column-shaped main body, 12
... Bearing cylinder part, 12a ... Shaft insertion hole, 13 ... Semi-circular concave part, 14, 15 ... Shaft insertion recess, 16 ... Cable insertion hole, 17a, 17b ... Ridge line, 18a, 18
b: End face, 21: Half-diamond pillar-shaped main body, 22:
Bearing cylinder portion, 22a shaft insertion hole, 23 semicircular concave portion, 24, 25 shaft insertion concave portion, 30 first end unit, 30a joining surface, 31 half diamond shape 32, a bearing cylinder, 32a, a shaft insertion hole, 33
... Semicircular concave portions, 34, 35 ... Shaft insertion concave portions, 36 ...
Through holes for cable insertion, 37 ridge lines, 38a, 38
b end face, 39, 40 mounting part (bracket), 5
0 ... second end unit, 50a ... joining surface, 51 ...
... Half diamond-shaped pillar-shaped main body, 52 ... Bearing cylinder, 52a ...
... Shaft insertion hole, 53 ... Semicircular concave portion, 54, 55 ... Shaft insertion concave portion, 56 ... Cable through hole, 57 ...
Ridge line, 58a, 58b end face, 59, 60 mounting part (bracket), 70 connecting shaft, 100 hinge device, 200 main body casing, 200a rear face, 2
01 ... inner surface, 202 ... outer surface, 210 ... keyboard, 230 ... mounting part, 240 ... recess, 250
..., Switch, 251... Operating part, 300, lid casing, 300 a, back, 301, inner surface, 302,
... outer surface, 310 ... display panel, 320 ... tablet, 330 ... mounting part, 340 ... switch operation part, 400 ... through hole, 410 ... flexible cable, 450 ... pen, 500 ... portable type Information processing device

Claims (7)

[Claims] 1. Three or more hinge units are arranged in a row, and adjacent hinge units are relatively rotatably connected to each other via a connection shaft having a large rotation resistance, and are attached to two hinge units at both ends. A hinge device having a configuration provided with a part. 2. The three or more hinge units are one or more rhombic columnar intermediate units and end units at both ends of a half-rhombic rhomboidal column having a mounting portion, and each of the intermediate unit and the end unit has a rhombic shape. A bearing cylinder portion is provided along a ridge line having a larger inner angle of, and the bearing cylinder portions of adjacent hinge units are axially aligned with each other,
The hinge device according to claim 1, wherein the connecting shaft is press-fitted into the bearing cylinder portions. 3. A through-hole is formed in each hinge unit along the direction in which the hinge units are arranged in a row, and the through-hole in each hinge unit is configured as a continuous through-hole. Or the hinge device according to claim 2. 4. A portable information processing apparatus wherein a main body casing having a keyboard and a lid casing having a display panel are relatively rotatably connected via a hinge device according to any one of claims 1 to 3. apparatus. 5. The portable information processing apparatus according to claim 4, wherein a tablet is provided on the lid casing so as to overlap the display panel. 6. A state in which the inner surface of the main body casing on which the keyboard is arranged and the inner surface of the lid casing on which the display panel and the tablet are arranged face each other, and a state in which the inner surface of the main body casing is opposite to the inner surface. 6. The portable information processing apparatus according to claim 5, wherein the main casing and the lid casing are connected via a hinge device so as to be relatively rotatable between the outer surface and a state in which the outer surface of the lid casing faces each other. apparatus. 7. A switch which operates in a state where the outer surface of the main body casing and the outer surface of the lid casing face each other to release the operation of the keyboard, and one of a switch operating portion for operating the switch is a main body. 7. The portable information processing device according to claim 6, wherein the portable information processing device is provided on the outer surface side of the casing, and the other is provided on the outer surface side of the lid casing.